We’re now seven months into the pandemic and a lot of people are getting sick of being stuck at home. Some have gone back to their favorite treatment centers for weekly facials and spa treatments. I’ve already had online consultations for patients considering eyelid lifts and eyeball surgeries. Their main question though: is it safe yet?
Honestly, doctors have re-started performing elective procedures several months back. Initially, all patients were treated as COVID-19 suspects and as such, had to undergo RT-PCR testing. Everybody in the operating ROOM of course had to be in full protective gear. These definitely added to the patient’s expenses. Naturally, many patients deferred their procedures.
The requirements for surgery have relaxed somewhat. Some still require COVID testing for patients but, instead of the more costly RT-PCR, the rapid antigen test has become acceptable. Also, if the procedure doesn’t involve the airways or the patient doesn’t need to be asleep with ventilation, personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by the medical staff can be as simple as just an N-95 mask, scrub suit and operating gown. No more wearing of hot, sticky and stifling bunny suits if the surgery isn’t COVID-risky.
Where does cosmetic surgery fall? In the United States, several news reports in July 2020 stated that weirdly, there was actually an uptick in the number of cosmetic procedures performed. Most of these patients figured that since they won’t be going out, recuperating at home with nobody seeing them puffy and bruised was the clincher. They didn’t become victims of their own rushed healing timelines the way they would have if the surgery was done in normal circumstances. This is in a way a good thing for the surgeons— using “bloodless” instruments such as cautery machines and CO2 lasers that release fumes is a risk for COVID. If the surgeon doesn’t have special air purifiers and filtration systems in the OR and suction machines to take out the fumes, it is best to rely on the good ol’ surgical blade. There’s more bleeding during surgery and bruising post-op when you use this, but when we’re not under time pressure for our patients to look awesome right away, then this is a win-win for all.
All things considered, surgery during the pandemic is still something that both the surgeon and the patient must carefully discuss before jumping into. The risk for COVID is still present, we’re not out of the woods yet. Especially if the patient is a senior with co-morbid illnesses (high blood pressure, diabetes, or other conditions), I would personally advise the patient to defer cosmetic surgery. If all goes well, with the virus controlled and the pandemic resolved, we just have to wait a bit, and pretty soon it would be much safer to schedule that beautifying procedure.
